High
Ranking Official From Indian Narcotics
Control Bureau Visits DEA Detroit

Detroit,
MI - On March 26, 2003, Deputy Director General A.P. Kala of the Indian
Narcotics Control Bureau (INCB) visited the Detroit office of the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to exchange information on an international
poly-drug investigation being conducted by the two agencies. DEA Detroit
Enforcement Group Four initiated the investigation in October 2001, which
targeted members of an international narcotics syndicate responsible for
importing millions of Ecstasy tablets (MDMA), thousands of pounds of hashish,
and large quantities of heroin into the United States from various parts
of the world.

The DEA Detroit Office
was able to introduce an undercover Special Agent to members of the organization.
Intelligence information gained from undercover negotiations led to the
identification of narcotics suppliers and conspirators in The Netherlands,
India, Austria, Germany, Poland and the United States. With the assistance
of DEA offices throughout Western Europe and law enforcement agencies
in that area of the world, investigators have made multiple drug seizures
and arrests. This investigation resulted in court authorized wiretaps
conducted by police agencies in four foreign countries. That resulted
in the seizure of 1.8 million tablets of Ecstasy in Germany and 1700 pounds
of hashish in the United States. Approximately 12 arrests have been made
and drug-related assets worth millions of dollars will likely be seized
in other countries.

Deputy Director General
Kala's visit to Detroit exemplified the close working relationship enjoyed
by the Indian Narcotics Control Bureau and the DEA. This case marked the
first time that law enforcement in India shared evidence obtained from
wiretap intercepts with the DEA, which resulted in the investigation expanding
to other countries. The INCB was pleased that additional evidence surfaced
during the investigation concerning an Indian citizen who had long been
under investigation for hashish smuggling; but previous investigation
had failed to result in his arrest.

"This investigation
clearly demonstrates the critical value of our DEA offices overseas and
the relationships we enjoy with our law enforcement counterparts around
the globe. Drug trafficking is truly an international criminal enterprise
that requires international law enforcement cooperation," said Michael
A. Braun, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division.